Chapter Forty-Two: Picking Up a Beauty

Night quietly descended at last.

From sunset, Ashao sat until the cold deepened with the night.

Huai Yin and Yi Qingchen dared not disturb her; matters of the heart are always the most unfathomable, and their presence would do no good.

She did not return inside even as dawn broke. Instead, she rose, intending to leave Juexi Terrace.

Seeing this, Yi Qingchen and Huai Yin, regardless of the risk of exposure, hurried after her.

Without thinking, one blurted out, “Master’s wife?”

Ashao halted abruptly, her voice cold. “You have mistaken me for someone else. I am not your master’s wife.

My common name is Xiao Yu, wife of the Third Prince. I saved you because we are all of the human race. If you continue to be ungrateful, do not blame me for casting you out of Juexi Terrace.”

“But—”

Yi Qingchen quickly pressed Huai Yin’s hand, stepping forward. “Very well, then may I address you as Lady Xiao?”

“As you wish.” Ashao’s back stiffened, not daring to look back. She feared that if she did, her feelings would betray her, so she forced out two terse words.

“Good. Since Lady Xiao has not rested all night, where are you headed? Why not return and rest awhile?” Yi Qingchen sighed with relief; since Ashao did not refuse, it meant she had agreed.

Ashao drew a slow breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and glanced aside. “No need. I wish to take a walk.

You two, come with me.”

“Is that… really wise?” Huai Yin hesitated.

To go out in broad daylight was simply courting disaster.

“You’re unwilling?” Ashao’s tone turned even colder.

Noting her displeasure, Yi Qingchen hastened to mediate. “You misunderstand, Lady Xiao.

We owe you our lives and would not dare disobey your wishes.”

“Little Master?” Huai Yin grew anxious, pulling Yi Qingchen aside and whispering, “But… what if—”

If they were discovered outside, wouldn’t that implicate their benefactor?

“Brother Huai, don’t worry. Since Lady Xiao invites us, she must have her reasons. Otherwise, she would not have saved us at all.”

Huai Yin peeked out, still undecided.

Ashao asked, “Well? Have you finished discussing?”

“Yes, Lady, please lead the way.” Yi Qingchen tugged Huai Yin by the hem of his robe, giving him a discreet pinch.

Instantly, Huai Yin’s face flushed. Little Master, you—

Ashao pretended not to notice and walked ahead, the others following in silence.

The only sound was the briny sea wind, tousling their hair and garments.

Glancing back, Ashao clutched the little shoe in her hand, her gaze unconsciously dimming.

She walked on quietly, knowing full well her own reasons. With her there, at least the Third Prince would spare them for her sake. Moreover, he would surely strengthen the guards at Lingyun Cave.

There could be no safer place than this.

If they lingered at Juexi Terrace, the outcome would be unpredictable.

And as they were “Wind’s” people, they were under her protection—this was all she could do.

After half an hour’s walk, they traversed a wooded path to a rocky shore, beside which stood a shaded pavilion.

Beyond the rocks and shallows lay a small beach, the waves washing it smooth and pristine.

As they strolled, their footprints trailed behind.

Neither Yi Qingchen nor Huai Yin knew Ashao’s true intentions, but since she remained silent, they dared not speak either.

Time thus settled into a strange lull.

At last, Ashao spoke first: “Why have you two come to this island? Do you truly not know what kind of place this is?”

Yi Qingchen replied, “We know, but we had no choice.”

“And why is that?” Ashao stopped as waves crashed in, soaking her embroidered shoes and the hem of her skirt.

“I owe a debt to someone who needs a unique item from this island to save a life. Thus, we sought out Master Bufeng, who told us the exact route to the Sovereign’s Isle.

But as we neared the island, we encountered the First Prince. In the ensuing battle, you rescued Huai Yin and me, but our benefactor’s fate remains unknown.” Yi Qingchen finished, studying Ashao’s expression.

But, regrettably, she saw nothing.

Just as disappointment struck, a sudden strange wind swept through the woods, snatching the little shoe from Ashao’s grasp.

Though Ashao reacted swiftly, she managed to grab only one shoe; the other was whisked away by the wind, out to sea, and quickly carried off by the ebbing tide.

“No!”

Without thinking, Ashao rushed into the water, but Yi Qingchen caught her in time.

“Be at ease, Lady. I will fetch it for you,” Huai Yin said, leaping lightly over the waves in pursuit.

Just as he bent to retrieve it, the little shoe flipped and vanished beneath the water.

On the shore, Ashao grew anxious. “Well? Did you find it?”

She called silently in her heart: Wulei, daughter’s Wulei...

“Hmm? Here it is, Lady. Please wait,” Huai Yin replied, intending to search elsewhere, when the shoe resurfaced on its own.

He couldn’t help but marvel—had the shoe become a spirit?

He reached for it, but as his hand closed around it, a pale hand shot up from the depths, yanking him into the sea.

Yi Qingchen paled. “Brother Huai?”

Before she could finish, a white ribbon shot from her hand, plunged into the water, and wound around Huai Yin’s wrist, hauling him back to shore.

Coughing and sputtering, Huai Yin sat drenched on the sand. But when he saw what lay beside him, his expression changed entirely. He tried to pry off the pale hand, but it clung to him as if welded.

Unable to shake it off, he handed the little shoe to Ashao. “Lady.”

Yi Qingchen took the shoe and handed it to Ashao, then turned back. “What happened, Brother Huai?”

“How should I know? Hurry, help me. Whatever this is, I can’t shake it off.” He felt ridiculous even saying it.

“All right.” Yi Qingchen, not wanting to gloat, helped turn the person over.

Brushing aside damp hair, she saw it was a beautiful woman—though her complexion was ashen, lips blue, and, upon closer inspection, no outward wounds. Whatever was wrong would need to be checked later.

She wondered how the woman had drifted here, and how she had escaped the snakes in the water.

Yi Qingchen tried to loosen the grip but failed.

“Sorry, I can’t help you.”

Looking up, she saw Huai Yin staring at the woman in shock. She assumed he was just startled, but inside, Huai Yin’s heart pounded—how was the Second Miss here? Wasn’t she supposed to be at the other estate?

He couldn’t fathom it but dared not reveal a thing. After a moment, he asked, “What now?”

Yi Qingchen looked to Ashao.

Ashao frowned. “Take her with us.”

She glanced into the woods, then at the little shoe in her hand, a sudden wave of emotion rising in her heart—was this, too, fate?

Years ago, had she not gone out to gather herbs and saved the wounded Third Prince, she would not be here now.

And she and he would not have parted ways.

Now, all because of a little shoe, fate had woven their paths together again.

Huai Yin fell silent. Yi Qingchen comforted him, “Let’s go. I’ll help you. She’s weak, but still breathing.

Perhaps when she wakes, she’ll let go.”

“I hope so,” Huai Yin replied uneasily, unsure if the Second Miss would expose him once she awoke.

But with her in danger, he could not abandon her.

With Yi Qingchen’s help, they brought her back to Juexi Terrace.

Because changing clothes would be difficult, Huai Yin was told to close his eyes while Yi Qingchen used a little magic to dry their clothes.

When he was told to open his eyes, he asked, “How is she?”

Yi Qingchen replied, “I know nothing of medicine—I fear I cannot help.”

Specialties are for the skilled; the true situation required an expert.

“I’ll do it,” Ashao said, cradling the little shoe as she approached the bed, her fingers pressing the woman’s pulse, then lifting her eyelids for a look.

“She’s fine; she’ll wake in a few hours. But… there may be some impairment.”

Huai Yin was stunned, staring at the Second Miss. What did Lady Xiao mean? Was she saying her mind would be affected?

He felt an odd sense of relief, tinged with something he couldn’t name.

Ashao did not elaborate, only beckoned Yi Qingchen to wait outside with her.

The patient needed rest; the living needed calm.

They sat by the window. Ashao gazed out at the bustling world and said quietly, “You will not obtain that item.

I will find a chance to send you away.”

“Why?” Yi Qingchen’s heart sank.

“There is no reason. Leaving is the best choice for you both.”

“I… Forgive me, Lady, but I cannot comply.”

“Why? There are many ways to repay a debt, but it need not be the most dangerous.

Besides, he is missing.

He may well be dead.”

“No, that’s not possible. He must be safe.” Yi Qingchen denied it desperately.

“He is only your benefactor; why are you so concerned?”

“…I…” Yes, he was only her benefactor. She was only a life he had saved.

“Go back. The Sovereign’s Isle is not a place for you. Nor is it a place for the living.”

Yi Qingchen steadied herself. “Forgive me, Lady, but we will not leave without that item.”

Ashao sighed inwardly, her face unmoved. “Do you know why the Sovereign Stone possesses such miraculous effects?”

“We… would like to hear more.”

“Hmph. You know nothing, yet you dared to trespass here. Shall I commend your courage, or your ignorant fearlessness?” Ashao’s gaze sharpened, and Yi Qingchen fell silent.

After a pause, Ashao continued, “A Sovereign Stone can save a life, even mend a shattered soul. Am I correct?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph. That is because each Sovereign Stone costs a life.

Naturally, it is miraculous.” Ashao’s tone was cold as frost.

“What do you mean, Lady? I don’t understand.” How could it cost a life? Wasn’t it a wondrous stone?

“Do you know how a Sovereign Stone is formed? What is required?”

Yi Qingchen was truly stumped; she had no idea.

Ashao looked her in the eye. “Each stone, to be precise, costs two lives.”

How could that be?

“The Sovereign Birds of Sovereign’s Isle hunt immortals in the surrounding seas each year. Males are eaten immediately; females survive a while longer.

Isn’t it tempting to think the birds are kind to female immortals?”

Yi Qingchen’s eyes narrowed, her lips twitching, speechless.

“Well, compared to the men who are devoured on the spot, the women might seem lucky.

But their real nightmare is yet to come.” If they could choose, they would prefer to be eaten, rather than endure a lingering existence.

For them, to live is worse than to die.

“Why?”

Ashao’s lips curved in a chilling smile.

“Because…”